globemaster3
January 10, 2011, 11:06 PM
Ok folks, I'm scratching my head on this one.
I tried to get the daughter's Mossberg 500 Bantam 20 ga to shoot slugs. I invested in the Trophy Slugster barrel which was factory mounted with a cheap Bushnell scope (could be problem #1) after having great results with a Trohpy Slugster (on which I mounted a Nikon Prostaff) for my 12 ga Mossberg 500.
A couple weeks ago, I went to the range with 2 boxes of Remington Copper Solid Sabots, Winchester Partition Gold, Lightfield EXP, and Hornady SST and my Caldwell Lead Sled.
The Remingtons were not a grouping, but a pattern. Shooting at 50 yards at 8" rounds resulted in holes all over the place. Obviously this gun did not like those!
The Winchester Partition Golds produced a measured 3 1/4" group at 50 yards, 2" high and 1 1/2" right.
The Hornadys were running 2 3/4" groups 1" low, but on center.
Then the Lightfields came in touching, and just outside the black at 7:00.
So, I take the Lightfields out to 100 yards and get a 3" group before running out of ammo. Seems like that will do it!
I buy 6 boxes of Lightfield EXPs, go back to the range today, and begin the job all over again to get the scope dialed in. At 50 yards, the first grouping is touching. Yeah! Then the fun stopped!
Instead of grouping, I began getting vertical strings going down. I was giving it a minute rest in between shots, and it was 32 degrees out, so the barrel wasn't heating up. An ungloved hand touching the barrel in between shots confirmed it wasn't even lukewarm. I was still shooting off the Lead Sled.
Eventually I adjusted the scope to compensate for the last round's POI, set the gun down and switched to my 12 ga Mossberg 500, and it ate the Winchester Platinum 400 gr slugs like a champ, giving me 2 1/2" groups at 100 yards.
Back to the 20 ga. The first round at 50 yards was back to 2" high with the adjustment, about where I wanted it before going to 100 yards. So far, so good. I shoot another round, and its 2" lower. Hmmm. I shoot another, and its another 2" lower. Arghhhhhhhh:mad:
Back to the 12 ga. Everything's fine.
Back to the 20 ga. I took it out to 100 yards and the first round was off the paper low. I adjusted the scope for the last POI and the first round went right where I wanted it. Then it strung low again on successive shots!
I'm assuming the scope is bad. After all, it was a package deal from Mossberg for the scope/barrel. I checked the rings and they are tight. I checked the mounting bolt for the barrel and it was tight. A bad scope is the only thing I can think of. I've never had one go bad like this before, so I'm a little nervous that this might not be the problem and throwing $250 at the Nikon Slughunter I've been considering might be in vain (or it will go on my 12 ga :D)
Anyone got any other thoughts? After 6 boxes of Lightfield EXPs through that gun alone tonight, there's $72 out the window...
I tried to get the daughter's Mossberg 500 Bantam 20 ga to shoot slugs. I invested in the Trophy Slugster barrel which was factory mounted with a cheap Bushnell scope (could be problem #1) after having great results with a Trohpy Slugster (on which I mounted a Nikon Prostaff) for my 12 ga Mossberg 500.
A couple weeks ago, I went to the range with 2 boxes of Remington Copper Solid Sabots, Winchester Partition Gold, Lightfield EXP, and Hornady SST and my Caldwell Lead Sled.
The Remingtons were not a grouping, but a pattern. Shooting at 50 yards at 8" rounds resulted in holes all over the place. Obviously this gun did not like those!
The Winchester Partition Golds produced a measured 3 1/4" group at 50 yards, 2" high and 1 1/2" right.
The Hornadys were running 2 3/4" groups 1" low, but on center.
Then the Lightfields came in touching, and just outside the black at 7:00.
So, I take the Lightfields out to 100 yards and get a 3" group before running out of ammo. Seems like that will do it!
I buy 6 boxes of Lightfield EXPs, go back to the range today, and begin the job all over again to get the scope dialed in. At 50 yards, the first grouping is touching. Yeah! Then the fun stopped!
Instead of grouping, I began getting vertical strings going down. I was giving it a minute rest in between shots, and it was 32 degrees out, so the barrel wasn't heating up. An ungloved hand touching the barrel in between shots confirmed it wasn't even lukewarm. I was still shooting off the Lead Sled.
Eventually I adjusted the scope to compensate for the last round's POI, set the gun down and switched to my 12 ga Mossberg 500, and it ate the Winchester Platinum 400 gr slugs like a champ, giving me 2 1/2" groups at 100 yards.
Back to the 20 ga. The first round at 50 yards was back to 2" high with the adjustment, about where I wanted it before going to 100 yards. So far, so good. I shoot another round, and its 2" lower. Hmmm. I shoot another, and its another 2" lower. Arghhhhhhhh:mad:
Back to the 12 ga. Everything's fine.
Back to the 20 ga. I took it out to 100 yards and the first round was off the paper low. I adjusted the scope for the last POI and the first round went right where I wanted it. Then it strung low again on successive shots!
I'm assuming the scope is bad. After all, it was a package deal from Mossberg for the scope/barrel. I checked the rings and they are tight. I checked the mounting bolt for the barrel and it was tight. A bad scope is the only thing I can think of. I've never had one go bad like this before, so I'm a little nervous that this might not be the problem and throwing $250 at the Nikon Slughunter I've been considering might be in vain (or it will go on my 12 ga :D)
Anyone got any other thoughts? After 6 boxes of Lightfield EXPs through that gun alone tonight, there's $72 out the window...